Disney Criticized For Super Bowl Advertisement After Announcing Layoffs… Here’s the Catch

Amidst the news of the layoffs that have overtaken most news about Disney recently, some critics have been questioning how Disney managed that while being able to buy a Super Bowl advertisement. Well, the answer is a little more surprising than one would think.

After the February 8 earnings call, Disney news has been primarily flooded with responses to the enormous layoffs that the company was soon to see. However, in the midst of this, Disney also happened to make an appearance at the Super Bowl, particularly when it came to the highly anticipated Super Bowl advertisements.

Disney had a 90-second slot during the Super Bowl, showcasing the Walt Disney Company’s history of “storytelling and innovation.” The advert—Disney100 Special Look—was adorable, featuring children watching Disney, dressing up as Disney princesses, and playing with lightsabers.

Check it out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg69VWvHGOA&ab_channel=Disney

Related: ‘Little Mermaid’ Fans Boiling, Claiming New Trailer “Dropped” from Super Bowl

Many fans, though, took to Twitter to share their surprise and disappointment that Disney chose to layoff 7000 employees and then spent an exorbitant amount of money on a Super Bowl advertisement, which, as we know, is the most expensive advertisement slot of the year.

nothing like laying off 7k employees right before spending $7mil on superbowl commercials #Disney

— Eagle Randall (@HTownEaglePhan) February 14, 2023

However, Disney apparently didn’t pay for their Super Bowl advertisement. As journalist Brooks Barnes shared, a Disney spokesperson shared that the company “used advertising credits owed by Fox to cover the commercial’s placement cost,” in simpler terms, Disney used what basically boils down to “store credit,” as journalist Scott Gustin explained.

Also, regarding that D100 Super Bowl commercial coming as Disney cuts lots of jobs … A Disney spokesman said the company used advertising credits owed by Fox to cover its placement cost

— Brooks Barnes (@brooksbarnesNYT) February 13, 2023

Related: Reminder: Super Bowl Winners Won’t Be “Going to Disney World” This Year

All of this is in honor of Disney100, Disney’s incredibly elaborate celebration of reaching its centennial, an accomplishment that is most definitely worth honoring and marking. Disney has special decorations and entertainment offerings prepared for the Disney Parks—both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort—in honor of the milestone.